MADURAI
The Confederation of Indian Industry (Madurai zone) has rolled out its plans for 2019 here on Tuesday.
Speaking to media persons, chairman K. Nagaraj and vice-chairman Satish Devadoss said that they had formed different panels and appointed conveners from the industry to assist them in getting the initiatives implemented.
While a number of initiatives were already there at different stages, the CII would focus on the projects by taking them to the next level.
With the city witnessing changes under the Smart City project, infrastructure was bound to improve.
Explaining the objective, they said that the panels comprising manufacturing sector, MSME, education, ICT task force, et al, would study the requirements for Madurai, which would be taken up with the government supported by technical data.
For instance, the CII had proposed to rejuvenate waterbodies in and around Madurai. Soon, the one at Chatrapatti near here would be taken up. Likewise, on the transport sector, there was a need to ply more trains from Madurai to Coimbatore as there was high demand on the stretch. After collecting data on the number of passengers and other details, the Union Railway Ministry would be approached through the CII (Tamil Nadu).
Locally, Mr. Nagaraj said, there were at least 125 start-ups and among other allied units in Madurai with employee strength of as low as five to 50 and above. The CII Madurai zone would focus on attracting more such Start-ups to come here and the infrastructural facilities would be examined. “We hope to make Madurai as an industrial destination...” they noted.
With the district administration and local bodies officials keen on Smart city project, the CII would also chip in and offer its expertise wherever required. The airport expansion would be accorded top priority as using the airport during nights would promote various businesses including tourism. Similarly, in the months to come, the Madurai-Thoothukudi industrial corridor would be given more attention, they said.
With the foundation stone laid for the AIIMS, it would give jobs to at least 4000 to 5000 people directly and indirectly. The CII, they said, would focus on the need for preserving and conserving water bodies, bring in more user friendly techniques in education sector and among others.
The Young Indians (Yi), a wing of CII, comprising young entrepreneurs and professionals, have also plans for the calendar year including to give a fillip to the student community in colleges and higher secondary schools.